The LMR38020 is a step-down synchronous buck converter with integrated high-side (HS) and low-side (LS) switches (synchronous rectifier). The LMR38020 supplies a regulated output voltage by turning on the high-side and low-side NMOS switches with controlled duty cycle. During high-side switch on time, the SW pin voltage swings up to approximately V_IN, and the inductor current, i_L, increases with a linear slope (V_IN – V_OUT) / L. When the high-side switch is turned off by the control logic, the low-side switch is turned on after an anti-shoot-through dead time. Inductor current discharges through the low-side switch with a slope of –V_OUT / L. The control parameter of a buck converter is defined as Duty Cycle D = t_ON / T_SW, where t_ON is the high-side switch on time and T_SW is the switching period. The converter control loop maintains a constant output voltage by adjusting the duty cycle D. In an ideal buck converter where losses are ignored, D is proportional to the output voltage and inversely proportional to the input voltage: D = V_OUT / V_IN.

Figure 8-1 SW Node and Inductor Current Waveforms in Continuous Conduction Mode (CCM)

The LMR38020 employs fixed-frequency peak-current mode control. A voltage feedback loop is used to get accurate DC voltage regulation by adjusting the peak-current command based on voltage offset. The peak inductor current is sensed from the high-side switch and compared to the peak current threshold to control the on time of the high-side switch. The voltage feedback loop is internally compensated, which allows for fewer external components, making it easy to design and providing stable operation with almost any combination of output capacitors. The converter operates with fixed switching frequency at normal load condition. At light-load condition, the LMR38020 operates in PFM mode to maintain high efficiency (PFM version) or in FPWM mode for low output voltage ripple, tight output voltage regulation, and constant switching frequency (FPWM version).